FREMANTLE has confirmed veteran ruckman Aaron Sandilands will play on for a 17th season next year. 

The warhorse big man turns 36 in December and has battled injuries over the past three seasons, managing just 26 appearances, but is motivated to help guide the Dockers through their rebuild.

"Fortunately, I'm allowed to go around again for another 12 months," Sandilands said.

"I had a good chat with the club and a good think about things and I'm going to have another year at Fremantle, which I'm really excited about.

"Obviously, the motivation is still there. I've had a bit of time to talk about it with the family and I know the love for the game and the footy club is also still there.

"I think it does definitely make the decision a lot easier."

A dual Doig medallist and four-time All Australian, Sandilands is one of the greatest rookie list success stories and remains influential in Freo's midfield when fit.

But he has been sidelined since round 15 by a calf complaint and hamstring woes kept him to 10 games last year.

The 265-gamer's role next season will reportedly include a coaching element to nurture protégé Sean Darcy, plus Freo's other developing talls Scott Jones, Lloyd Meek, Michael Apeness and Luke Strnadica.

Sandilands follows evergreen former skipper David Mundy and small forward Hayden Ballantyne by inking a one-year extension.

"I think having such a big turnover with 22 new faces in two years, the experienced guys like David and Hayden, you really need those guys around to guys and teach," Sandilands said.

"The young guys pick up a fair amount, just from the way the senior players go about things so you need that balance of youth and experience."

Sandilands could be in the mix to return for Michael Johnson and Danyle Pearce's potential farewell games against Collingwood on Sunday.

Lee Spurr has already retired after knee issues kept him off the field in 2018.